A closer look at the top 25 in this week's MaxPreps National Baseball Rankings.
By Kevin Askeland
MaxPreps.com
1. Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.), 25-8
The Latest: Defeated Mesquite (Gilbert) 6-5 to win the Arizona Class 5A Div. 1 championship.
Highlights: Ryan Casillas hit a two-out single to drive in the winning run for Hamilton, capping a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Mesquite.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
2. Owasso (Okla.), 35-3
The Latest: Defeated Yukon 4-0 in the Class 6A semifinals; Topped Moore 5-2 to win state championship.
Highlights: Brian Flynn got the victory in the championship game, giving up one earned run while striking out five. Jarrod Huneryager and Austin Kirk each doubled in the win with Kirk getting two basehits.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
3. Klein (Spring, Texas), 25-4
The Latest: Defeated Belton 7-2 and 9-8 in the Texas Conference 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: Jason Mohn had two home runs and five RBI in a 9-8 win over Belton. Sam Landis added a home run and also homered in a 7-2 win over Belton. Matt Purke struck out 15 Belton batters in the 7-2 victory.
What’s Up Next: Plays Georgetown in the regional quarterfinals.
4. Carroll (Fort Pierce, Fla.), 10-1
The Latest: Defeated Clearwater Central Catholic 2-0 and 10-8 in the Florida Class 3A regional playoffs.
Highlights: The Golden Rams knocked off the defending state champions thanks to a 430-foot home run by David Hall that sent Game 1 into extra innings. Carroll eventually won on a bases-loaded single by Trae Goodwyn and a sacrifice fly by Ricky Teasley. TJ Mullins then pitched a shutout in a 2-0 victory, giving up two hits and striking out nine.
What’s Up Next: Plays Keystone Heights in state semifinals.
5. Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge, La.), 35-4
The Latest: Defeated Kaplan 10-0 in the semifinals and St. Charles Catholic 12-3 in the Louisiana 3A championship game.
Highlights: The Eagles banged out 17 hits and got an outstanding effort from Joshua Janway, who had a no-hitter heading into the sixth inning. He finished with four hits allowed and seven strikeouts. Alex Edwards went 3-for-4 with two doubles to lead the Eagle offensive. Tournament MVP Alex Byo added three hits and three RBI.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
6. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 38-3
The Latest: Won five out of six games in five days to win Sunset Region. Wins included 17-3 over Arbor View, 15-2 over Palo Verde, 22-0 and 3-0 over Durango and 13-8 over Spring Valley.
Highlights: Johnny Field was 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and five RBI in the Spring Valley victory. Stephen Mantei also added a homer. Neil Lawhorn had two of Bishop Gorman’s five home runs in a 22-0 win over Durango. He finished with five RBI. Manthei, Paul Sewald and Erik Van Meetren each had a home run as well while Joey Rickard pitched a five-inning no-hitter.
What’s Up Next: Plays Bishop Manogue in first round of Class 4A playoffs.
7. Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins, Colo.), 21-3
The Latest: Defeated Chatfield 8-5 in Colorado 5A playoffs.
Highlights: Alex Kelly was 2-for-4 with a home run and five RBI in the win over Chatfield.
What’s Up Next: Plays Arapahoe in semifinals.
8. Plano West (Plano, Texas), 32-0
The Latest: Swept Longview 14-4 and 4-1 in Texas 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: Donald Plant homered and Jason Coats doubled in the 4-1 victory. Ben Flora got the win. Ryan Ford had a pair of doubles in the 14-4 victory while Harrison Holmes hit one out of the park.
What’s Up Next: Meets Rockwall in area playoffs.
9. American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), 29-2
The Latest: Defeated Chaminade 10-0 and 11-6 in Florida Class 3A regional playoffs.
Highlights: Nick Castellanos had two home runs and six RBI in a 10-0 win over Chaminade. In the 11-6 victory, Castellanos, Deven Marrero and Brandon Sedell all hit round-trippers for the Patriots.
What’s Up Next: Plays Pensacola Catholic in 3A semifinals.
10. Bishop Kenny (Jacksonville, Fla.), 12-2
The Latest: Defeated West Florida 5-3 and 15-3 in Florida class 4A regional finals.
Highlights: The Crusaders advance to the semifinals on the pitching of Neil McClellan, who is 9-1 on the season with a 0.91 ERA, and the offense of Ben Gamel (.500) and Ken Stalls (40 RBI).
What’s Up Next: Plays Rockledge in state 3A semifinals.
11. Niceville (Fla.), 20-11
The Latest: Defeated Gainesville 4-3 and 13-6 in Florida class 5A regional finals.
Highlights: Matt Herndon was 6-for-7 in the two-game sweep of Gainesville and Brett DeVall and Austin Wood both picked up wins for the Eagles. DeVall struck out 12 to earn his victory while Wood had eight strikeouts in his win.
What’s Up Next: Plays South Fork in state 5A semifinals.
12. Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), 32-6-1
The Latest: Defeated Jesuit 7-5 to win Louisiana class 5A state championship.
Highlights: The Buccaneers won their second state championship in three years. Ryan Doiron was named the tournament’s most valuable defensive player, earning the win over Jesuit by giving up one run in five innings with four strikeouts. Nick Doty and Hommy Rosado each doubled in the fifth inning when Barbe rallied for three runs to take a 7-5 lead.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
13. Park Vista (Boynton Beach, Fla.), 30-1
The Latest: Defeated Flanagan 4-2 and 6-3 in Florida class 6A regional finals.
Highlights: The Cobras won their 30th straight game in the sweep of Flanagan. Ryan Lashley was 5-for-7 in the two games with a double while Joey Todd and Chris Matulis both had three hits. Matulis upped his season record to 10-0 with a mound win in the 4-2 victory.
What’s Up Next: Plays Lakeland in state 6A semifinals.
14. Alvin (Texas), 30-4
The Latest: Defeated Atascocita 5-3 and 8-4 in Texas conference 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: The Yellowjackets rapped five doubles to top Atascocita 8-4. Chris McDonald had one of the doubles and finished with three hits.
What’s Up Next: Plays Brazoswood in 5A regional quarterfinals.
15. Sarasota (Fla.), 20-3
The Latest: Season over.
Highlights: The season is over for the defending champions, however Sarasota fans await the Major League Baseball amateur draft on June 5 to see where standout shortstop Casey Kelley will be chosen.
What’s Up Next: Season over.
16. Poway (Calif.), 25-5
The Latest: Defeated Torrey Pines 8-1, 6-5 and 8-6 to complete Palomar League play.
Highlights: Tommy Simis knocked a home run in an 8-6 win while Alex Dickerson was 3-for-3 with three RBI, a home run and a double in a 6-5 win.
What’s Up Next: Regular season over; awaits playoff seeding.
17. Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 24-9
The Latest: Defeated No. 1 seed Sunrise Mountain 2-1 to win Arizona Class 5A Div. 2 championship.
Highlights: Ryan Schwenn got the complete game victory in the 2-1 win over top-seeded Sunrise Mountain, giving up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts. Dillon Everett had an RBI triple to lead the Horizon offensive.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
18. Coppell (Texas) 30-5
The Latest: Defeated Lamar 8-5 and 13-5 in Texas class 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: Jonathan Walsh paced a 10-hit attack in a 13-5 win with a home run while Andy Pratt, DJ Garber and Austin Elkins all had doubles and Adam Toth and Garber blasted triples. Pratt also homered in an 8-5 win. Elkins and Greg Higginbotham each rapped doubles.
What’s Up Next: Plays Southlake Carroll in 5A regional quarterfinals.
19. Bishop Kelley (Tulsa, Okla.), 23-8
The Latest: Fell to Bixby 5-4 and 10-0 in the Oklahoma Class 5A playoffs.
Highlights: The Comets rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh, but were unable to get past Bixby in the 5-4 loss. Bixby easily won the next matchup, 10-0, in one hour and 20 minutes on Monday.
What’s Up Next: Season over.
20. Northville (Mich.), 23-1
The Latest: Defeated Franklin (Livonia) 11-2 before falling to Salem 6-4 on Tuesday in a game not reflected in rankings.
Highlights: Dan Mills had a pair of hits and Matt Deacon belted a triple in Northville’s win over Franklin.
What’s Up Next: Plays Glenn and Walled Lake Western this week.
21. Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), 34-3
The Latest: Defeated Powell 9-5 in the first round of the Tennessee 3A regional championships.
Highlights: Freshman Philip Pfeifer pitched five innings to get the win for Farragut in the first round. Matt Ramsey had a two run double and Mac Thoreson had a two-run homer to highlight the Admirals’ offensive attack.
What’s Up Next: Plays Knoxville Hall in regional finals.
22. Rowlett (Texas), 31-1-2
The Latest: Defeated Tyler Lee 8-1 and 3-0 in Texas class 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: Drew Mayhall homered and Andrew Smith picked up the win with a one-hitter against Tyler Lee.
What’s Up Next: Plays Allen in 5A regional quarterfinals.
23. Conway (S.C.), 27-2
The Latest: Defeated Summerville 6-4 to reach state 4A finals; lost first game of championship series to Boiling Springs, 4-3.
Highlights: Conway gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning and another solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to fall to Boiling Springs in the first round of the 4A championship series Monday.
What’s Up Next: Plays second game of 4A championship series against Boiling Springs.
24. Carroll (Southlake, Texas), 25-8
The Latest: Defeated Arlington Martin 9-8 and 9-1 in Texas 5A area playoffs.
Highlights: Ethan Cunningham slammed a pair of home runs to lift Carroll in a 9-1 win over Martin. Cunningham also homered in a 9-8 win over Martin.
What’s Up Next: Plays Coppell in 5A regional quarterfinals.
25. Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 26-6
The Latest: Defeated Sandra Day O’Connor 8-6 to win Arizona Class 4A Div. 1 championship.
Highlights: Chaparral won its fifth state championship in six years with a three-run rally in the bottom of the fifth, sparked by state MVP Danny Coulombe’s single and RBI basehits by Trey Ford, Jordan Weymouth and Landon Joost.
What’s Up Next: Season over – State champion.
